National Republican., 1887-05-03
What Constitutes the District OF Co
lumbia.

lumbia.
Every one knows that the District OF Co.
lumba was originally ten miles square,
this area having been ceded to the govern.
meut by the states Of Maryland and Virginia
for federal uses.
The clause Of the constitution under
which these cessions Of territory were &C.
cepted by Congress and the grants of the
states completely consummated or per-
fected is in these words: "Congress shall
have power to exercise exclusive legisla'
ton In all cases whatsoever over such dis
trict as may by cesson of particular states
and the acceptance Of Congress become the
seat Of government OF the United States.n
1t is evident from the quoted words
(clause II, section Z, article ~ OF the con-
stitution that when Congress had made
effectual the act Of cession Of Maryland
and Virginia by its acceptance OF the terri
tory so ceded, and by establishing therein
the seat Of government OF the United
States, Congress became vested with the
right to sole and exclusive jurisdiction over
said territory.
Forit was by distinct agreement, entered
ard Virginia on the one side and the people
of the United States on the other-an agree
inert that was made part Of the funda-
mental law--that the territory of the Dis
trict of Columbia was conveyed to the
United States, the consideration being that
the United States should establish within
said territory its seat Of government. This
was, to the states, the sole consideration,
the entire quid pro quo in the premises.
But the people, by the fundamental act
referred to, directed and instructed Con-
gress to hold, possess, and "erercise"-for
Congress could not exercise unless 1t did
hold and possess-exclusiye jurisdiction
over the territory ceded. Congress, there.
fore, could no more part with or ALLEVIATE a
portion of the District of Columbia than
it could part with the whole. That power
is clearly prohibited to Congress. 1t is ex-
pressly cpjoined from exercising said power
by those words Of the constitution which
declare that ongress-Congress alone, not
somebody else, not jointly with anybody
else-shall have exclusive jurisdiction over
the District.
Yet in those good old times when the
school Of strict constructionsts was in the
hey-day OF its power; when the limitations
OF the constitution were to be vigorously
interpreted; when Calhoun and other great
statesmen of his ilk were on deck and al
the helm Of the ship of state, Congress en-
acted law-passed July 0, 1si6-by which
all that portion Of the District Of Columbia
lying south of the Potomac was retroceded
to othe state of Virginia. Congress was willing
though ithad not the show OF right to
be willing-the state of Virginia was will
ing; and finally that portion of the District
known as Alexandria county, numbering
less than $1,000 people, was willing, which
last supremely ludlcrous "consent" wa
fitting conclusion to a stupendous legis
lative farce, though 1t was none the less
gross outrage upon the people OF thi
country.
And SO the District was dismembered
Now, where lies the remedy? Clearly tn,
integrity of our territorial area should b,
restored; its old symmetry should be re
established; its boundaries should again b.
those traced by him who was "frst in war
first in peace, and first in the hearts of hi
countrymen.n
We shall then have wholly within ma
tlonal Jurisdiction the classic ground o
Arlington, now made sacred by the ashe
of thousands Of our heroes-confederat
and Union-who have shed fresh luste
upon our national name.
There are many considerations urging Il
early action toward the righting Of thi
great wrong which we shall hereafter ad
vert to. We trust that some of our cti
zens having direct personal interest il
the matter, and some one learned II
the law, will take prompt and effectua
steps to bring this important question
before that final interpreter of all acts o
Congress-the Supreme Court.
GnnR and Their CarrIapea In the Navy